Switzerland is renowned for its high quality education. In a recent survey, Switzerland ranked 9th out of 65 countries and economies in the OECD/PISA 2012 in educational standards for 15 year olds. Although there is The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) which is the federal body responsible for the education in Switzerland, the 26 cantons have the major responsibility for the same and run their own education systems. Each canton has a separate calendar, curriculum, and methods of teaching of their own. There are, however, agreements relating to the curricula around the country. Thus shifting students from one place to another may be problematic. Responsibility for post compulsory education is shared between the Swiss confederation (federal government) and the cantons.
Student Visa –
What Where and How
First of all you must be at least 18
years of age before applying for a student visa in Switzerland.
Procedure
1.How to Apply :
To apply for a
student visa in Switzerland, you must first have a course of your choice,
submit your documents and get an acceptance letter . You should start applying
at least 3-4 months before you wish to study in Switzerland. Bear in mind that
choosing a course, college will take quite long by itself.
Once you are
enrolled in a University, you can contact the Swiss embassy in your country and
apply for a student visa.
You must fill an
application form and submit all the required documents to the embassy. Your documents should be translated to
French, German or Italian.
2.Documents
required-
For short termSchengen C
visas, documentation includes:
- A valid
passport/travel ID;
- Proof of
adequate financial resources to cover your costs while you’re in Switzerland;
- Healthcare/accident
insurance;
- Confirmation
of booked courses including fees paid;
- If you’re
under 18, a birth certificate and authorization to travel if coming to
Switzerland alone or copies of parents’ visas if they will be accompanying you.
For long term D visas-
a. A valid
passport/travel ID.
b.Proof of
adequate financial resources to cover your costs while you’re in Switzerland,
whether yourself or a sponsor, such as copies of bank statements or a letter
from the bank.
c.Proof of
healthcare insurance which includes cover for accidents.
d.Motivation
letter outlining why you want to come to Switzerland to study and how this will
be beneficial to your career.
e.Confirmation
of enrolment at a recognized Swiss educational institution.
f.Confirmation
of course fees paid.
g.Your CV.
h.Copies of
previous educational certificates and diplomas.
i.A signed
letter confirming that you will leave Switzerland at the end of the course.
You may also need
to take a language proficiency test to show your language skills. If you are
applying for a post graduation program, you must prove you have completed you
graduation and have sufficient financial means for the same.
3.Once you arrive in Switzerland
Once you arrive
in Switzerland, you have 14 days to register yourself and get your residence
permit at the local cantonal offices.
Since a permit B
takes time, you will be provided with an attestation that will allow you to
open a bank account in Switzerland but does not allow you to leave the country.
The B permit usually takes a few weeks to process, is given in the form of a
biometric card and is renewable every year.
4.Working as a student
As a student in
Switzerland, you will be allowed to work up to 18 hours a week and full-time
after holidays only after living in the country for 6 months.
If you have
already completed your Master’s and are working for the same institute or
University, you need not wait for 6 months.
Your employer
will have to get a work permit for you. As a student, you have to be a
full-time student and have to show you are making progress in your studies.
5.Post completion of your Course
After completion
of your course, you can apply for a 6 month permit to look for a job at the
cantonal office. For this, you need the following:
To apply, you’ll need to go to the cantonal
migration offices and provide:
a.A certificate or other proof that you have
finished your course;
b.Evidence that you can support yourself
financially during this time;
❖Proof you have somewhere suitable to live
6.Points to
Consider :
You need to have
proper knowledge of German, French or Italian as a prerequisite to enter
Switzerland.
You must purchase
a health insurance compulsorily if you intend to live in Switzerland for more
than 3months. This does not apply to students whose countries’ offer them
international insurance or equivalent insurance protection.
Students who have completed one academic year
in Swiss Universities are awarded with Partial or full scholarships excellent
notes. The sum of full or partial scholarship usually varies from Swiss Franc
(CHF) 3,000 – CHF 15,000.
